Economic Development
Alger County.
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| Munising Area Partnership presenting Open Wings Pottery Studio with their first dollar. |
Home of beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Alger County extends along the southern shore of Lake Superior for over 80 miles. Several hundred thousand visitors come to local attractions each year, supporting a significant year-round tourism industry. Alger County also contains a significant amount of manufacturing employment and is connected to the Midwest and Canadian markets by means of Highway M-28 and US-41, as well as by rail. Alger County's vast forests of white pine, which brought the lumber industry to the area, have been largely replaced by hardwood forests. But the wealth of natural resources is still crucial to the local economy, supplying both raw materials for industry and scenic beauty and recreation opportunities for local and tourists alike to enjoy.
- The Munising area economic development effort is focused on the expansion of new and existing businesses and small industry.
- New small manufacturers are welcome at the Munising Industrial Park. Alger County's stable economy is rooted in the area’s abundant natural resources. Lake Superior and other waterways, abundant forests and land support tourism and other industries.
- Manufacturing accounts for approximately 21 percent of the county’s total employment, paper mills and lumber have long played an important role in the economy.
- Manufacturers in the Munising area tend to be specialized and utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technology in their manufacturing processing.
- Service related jobs account for 24 percent of the Alger County area's labor market. Large employers in this sector include Christmas Kewadin Casino which employs over 100 employees, Munising Memorial Hospital which employees 95 employees and Tendercare Health Center which employees 75. The Munising School District employs 140 teachers, administrators and support staff.
- Alger County's pristine beauty and year-round recreational opportunities are nurturing the growth of what has become the country's second largest and fastest growing industry: tourism.
Business Resources
Munising Area Partnership for Development, Inc. works with other private/public organizations to stimulate and encourage growth of existing and new business and industry in the Munising area. Diversifying the economy and creating and sustaining job opportunities for the residents of the area are of primary importance to a healthy local economy. Call 906-387-1818 to contact MAPD, Inc.
Other business assistance organizations in the Upper Peninsula:
1st Step, Inc. provides free, one-on-one business counseling services
to business owners and those interested in becoming business owners. A business counselor is available in Munising monthly as a result of a collaborative effort between the Munising Area Partnership for Development, Inc. and Michigan Works!. Call MAPD, Inc. for an appointment in Munising - 906-387-1818. A counselor is also available in Escanaba and in Marquette weekly. Call the Lake Superior Community Partnership office at 906-226-9658 for an appointment in Marquette or 1st Step, Inc. directly at 906-786-9634 to make an appointment in Escanaba. www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/region1/
Michigan Works! is a public/private partnership providing assistance to job-seekers and assisting businesses with their human resource needs. Visit www.jobforce.org or call 906-387-4937 for more information about their services.
Northern Initiatives serves the business needs of the Upper Peninsula with lending services, consulting services, entrepreneurial education programs and seminars of interest to the business community. Visit www.northerninitiatives.com or call 906-228-5571 to learn more.
Helpful websites for business assistance/research:
ACCRA - cost of living information
www.accra.org
American Fact Finder - demographics
http://factfinder.census.gov
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
www.michigan.org/medc/services/startups/?m=12;7
Michigan Labor Market Information
www.michlmi.org
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
www.misbtdc.org/region1
NMU-Bureau of Business and Economic Research
www.bber.org | 906-227-1894
State of Michigan – Business resources and licensing requirements
http://www.michigan.gov/som
U.S. Census - demographics
www.census.gov